Council on Foreign Relations
Region: US
Friday 16 October 2026 18:56:41 GMT
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RocketMan4444 :
Aerospace engineer here. I assure you we think about fluid dynamics constantly.
2026-10-17 01:39:26
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Swift :
I’m all for improvements and efficiency, but as an engineer that designs piping systems, we size the pipe (its diameter) for the exactly needed flow rate. So diameter is driven by the system need. As for ‘crookedness’ a pipe’s route is wholly dependent on space available from A to B. We design the pipe for the exactly needs of the system. No more, no less. I have a hard time believing what he’s saying.
2026-10-16 21:19:12
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badbrad1272 :
Practically he’s right. As you increase the pipe size, internal friction is reduced and you save on energy cost. Technically he is wrong, there is a point at which the energy cost savings will not be more than the capital cost infrastructure to build larger pipes. Additionally there are many other variables that have to be reviewed, such as navigating around existing infrastructure, pipe supports capable of handling larger static loads, or even current capital allocation concerns (ie we ran outta money).
2026-10-17 01:05:01
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DCH115 :
Engineers study friction loss readily.
2026-10-16 21:34:13
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Aiden Almighty :
Quite a few assumptions about the entire world's mechanical layouts...🙄🙄🙄
2026-10-17 11:47:28
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Michael :
this is why I'm a cert electrician and roofer but last year signed up to the aerospace mechanical engineering program last year and started taking classes cause I am in the field working these systems installing them in the field as a field supervisor and tech and literally.. 90 percent of projects and how they are executed on site in the real world is the worse least effective process but we just have to get it done for the builders and general contractors so we just do the work but it's all wrong
2026-10-17 11:47:55
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gsvo80 :
Tell that to architects that keep prioritizing aesthetics and keep pinching down the available space to route utilities efficiently.
2026-10-16 22:38:00
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user3375944985531 :
Brilliant. As a retired residential builder I can tell you that architects never design the duct work for the HVAC system, nor do they design the plumbing. This means the plumber and HVAC installer must make many bends to move through the structure of the building. If the structure was designed with these systems in mind, then bends could be reduced.
2026-10-17 12:48:32
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bsorear :
By this logic, we should replace all country roads with 8 lane interstates to reduce traffic. No cost tradeoff there either
2026-10-16 21:52:43
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Buzzardfeast :
Or you can build nuclear reactors
2026-10-17 11:04:52
1
Neha 🌚 :
Imagine telling the finance Bros that a project has to be 50% more expensive for long-term gain. They're gonna laugh you out of the building. Engineers want this but the losers with the money wearing suits I think they're smarter. Or they just don't care cause they will be in a new role in two years and then the engineers will be stuck maintaining it
2026-10-16 22:05:17
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PG :
As design engineers we know it all too well.
2026-10-17 11:32:17
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Elijah :
Your talking redesigning and reinstalling all of the worlds EXISTING pipes and ducts/pumps and fans. Going forward not a bad idea, but retrofitting is utterly impractical.
2026-10-17 02:45:51
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Mrs. Ripy River :
The answer is right there!!! I have a well and filtration, septic, and I am putting in 100% solar. So I get my own water and then I let my yard absorb the waste, and I will make all my own energy!😃 I have 4 acres and FEMA approved my as a farm so I will grow my own chemical free food😏
2026-10-16 22:29:30
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JohnK :
Every gain in efficiency is taken up by growth.
2026-10-17 04:30:57
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Handyman Heroes LLC :
you made no sense shrinking the pipes or what exactly do you mean doesn't make sense
2026-10-16 23:10:31
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Chillalot :
This is where AI will pick up on down the line
2026-10-17 04:34:39
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The Lift Mechanic :
Yeah mate but what you said is absolutely rubbish
2026-10-17 04:37:47
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fatcatmat :
Stop building lesser designed units that break earlier and require additional units to replace at half life. Food products shrink the amounts
2026-10-16 19:06:12
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theodorebarta :
Five inch pvc to my sink? No
2026-10-17 07:40:33
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Arminius 🇦🇺 🇩🇪 :
in Australia we have had incentives to save pump snd fan energy since the mid 90s. i fear we have lost momentum .. with duct velocities probably ten time what should be done
2026-10-17 02:03:38
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Frunnin :
It’s easy to say this but phenomenally hard to achieve.
2026-10-17 04:43:03
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jocky12 :
Let’s just get rid of the pipes and live underwater!
2026-10-17 02:34:43
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neiloy :
Mechanical engineer here; I assure you engineers pay a lot of attention to pipes and ducts and don’t needlessly waste electricity. Just generate more electricity
2026-10-17 10:50:50
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University of Pi🇦🇶🏴☠️ :
I'd like to see an example of what he's proposing a lot of examples that come to mind to me, that wouldn't actually work so well making a refrigeration cycle with wider piping becomes antithetical to function, HVAC ducts being much larger becomes difficult to architect around, or etc (but obviously I'm thinking of the counter examples)
2026-10-16 23:49:39
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